For The Hellp, Obsession Is The Only Key To Greatness
The Los Angeles-based synth-punk duo is carving out a new sound, and a new style. How do they do it? Sacrifice, devotion, and a special cultural cache.
Published
The Clutch is a column catering to the major cultural moments in the present day. Pack your bags and hold onto your purse because we’ll be out all day.
I could listen to Noah Dillon scream into an echo-distorted mic for the rest of my life. The Hellp, a Los Angeles-based synth-punk duo consisting of Noah P. Dillion and Chandler Lucy, became a crucial obsession of mine when I first encountered them online in 2021. Their unique vibration of outlandish stuttered vocals and manipulated drum and bass creates a sonic language unlike any other in the industry. Clad in tight leather jackets and skinny jeans, they make music that transports you to another realm that I could only describe as the future. With one album out, an EP, and their new lead single, “California Dream Girl,” they are on track to release new work in the new year.
The duo met through a mutual friend while Chandler was working in construction. After enough persuasion, Noah convinced Chandler to leave his job and join the band. “Cultural impact is worth the sacrifice – we've put our lives, spirit, health, time, and money into this. It's more significant than being a neurosurgeon.” Even though the band wrestles with self-doubt, they navigate the music space with a profound understanding of their strengths and purpose. The boys have conflicting emotions towards their craft, but they serve as a poignant message for anyone aspiring to push culture forward. Genuinely, they both love and question the very essence of their music.